Former Cabinet minister Peter Hain has been found guilty of "serious and substantial" failings in not registering more than £100,000 of donations to his Labour deputy leadership campaign, according to Westminster's sleaze watchdog.

The elections watchdog has signalled that the law on political donations may need to be overhauled after prosecutors dropped an investigation into Peter Hain's campaign for the deputy leadership of the Labour Party.

Former Cabinet minister Peter Hain said today he was "pleased" he had cleared his name after it emerged he would not be facing charges following an investigation into his Labour Party deputy leadership campaign.

Hain under pressure Peter Hain said he hoped to be cleared quickly yesterday after police handed over evidence relating to his Labour deputy leadership bid. The former work and pensions secretary said his failure to declare gifts totalling £103,157 had been ‘an innocent mistake’. ‘When I discovered the problem it was I who immediately notified […]

File on Peter Hain’s donations has been handed to CPS Peter Hain has said he hopes to see his name cleared “as quickly as possible” after police handed prosecutors the results of their investigation into his Labour Party deputy leadership campaign. Scotland Yard delivered its evidence file to the Crown Prosecution Service for a decision […]

Peter Hain Former cabinet minister Peter Hain said he hoped to see his name cleared “as quickly as possible” today after police handed prosecutors the results of their investigation into his Labour Party deputy leadership campaign. Scotland Yard delivered its evidence file to the Crown Prosecution Service for a decision on whether charges should be […]

Tesco has cut trade links with trouble-torn Zimbabwe Tesco is to stop sourcing products from Zimbabwe as the political crisis there escalates. Tesco said it had taken the “difficult decision” to cut trade “until there is an end to the current political crisis”. The retailer said it could not ignore the escalating crisis and the […]

Scotland Yard handed their file on Labour donations to the CPS Detectives investigating a series of “disguised” donations to the Labour Party have handed over their main file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service, Scotland Yard have said. Police were called in by the Electoral Commission in November to look into whether £650,000 of […]

Peter Hain: ‘can’t answer a question without looking confused’ A blog that appears to come from the heart of the civil service has been shut after ridiculing ministers and public servants. The Civil Serf blog claimed to detail life inside a government department crippled by inept ministers, seven-hour meetings and political infighting. The online journal, […]

Viktor Bout An arms dealer who supplied weapons to Colombian drug lords and rebels in conflict-torn Africa was is in custody. Russian Viktor Bout is believed to be the model for the Nicolas Cage character in the 2005 film about arms dealing, Lord Of War. Bout was detained in Thailand on a US warrant accusing […]

Gordon Brown will discuss temporary workers’ rights with union leaders The Prime Minister is to meet union leaders in a bid to defuse an increasingly bitter dispute over new rights for 1.4 million temporary and agency workers. Gordon Brown will spell out his idea of a commission to examine the arguments for and against measures […]

Peter Hain backed second reading of agency workers Bill More than 130 Labour MPs have defied the Prime Minister and supported a Bill aimed at giving new rights to 1.4 million agency workers, landing the Government with its biggest backbench revolt for years. A total of 136 Labour MPs, including former Cabinet minister Peter Hain, […]

Poll says David Cameron has failed to capitalise on PM’s difficulties David Cameron has failed to capitalise on Gordon Brown’s New Year difficulties, according to a poll which shows the Tories’ lead over Labour has narrowed. The ComRes survey for The Independent gave the Conservatives an eight-point lead, down from 11 points last month. While […]

Gordon Brown today denied plans for McDonald’s and other firms to run A-level topics would amount to dumbing down – insisting the courses would be tough and intensive. Mr Brown said such a move would not mean that standards were going to fall. “If McDonald’s do it, it is not that standards are going to […]

Gordon Brown today denied plans for McDonald’s and other firms to run A-level topics would amount to dumbing down – insisting the courses would be tough and intensive. Mr Brown said such a move would not mean that standards were going to fall. “If McDonald’s do it, it is not that standards are going to […]

Gordon Brown defends Alan Johnson in ‘proxy’ donation row Gordon Brown has defended Cabinet minister Alan Johnson in the row over a “proxy” donation of more than £3,000, saying the Health Secretary had done nothing corrupt. He told GMTV, in a response to a question about whether Mr Johnson’s job was safe: “He has reported […]

Gordon Brown has defended Alan Johnson this morning Gordon Brown defended Cabinet minister Alan Johnson today in the row over a “proxy” donation of more than £3,000, saying the Health Secretary had done nothing corrupt. He told GMTV, in a response to a question about whether Mr Johnson’s job was safe: “He has reported everything […]